Man pleads guilty to public sex act in M&S toilet

Ianos Carolea, 36, from Romania but with an address at The Hermitage, Balgriffin, Dublin 13, has been charged with masturbating in public, at the Marks & Spencer, on Mary Street, on June 8, 2021.

He appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court today.

A disclosure of evidence order had been made previously.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the court could note a guilty plea. Judge Smyth adjourned the case for a sentencing hearing in July.

When it first came before the court last year, the judge heard Carolea intended to contest the case. But he changed his plea today.

The judge noted there were three garda witnesses but no CCTV evidence.

Mr Carolea made no reply when charged and the DPP had directed that the case should be dealt with at district court level.

Judge Bryan Smyth accepted jurisdiction for the case to be heard at district court level.

Earlier the court was told the facts of the case were as set out on the charge sheet. Garda Seamus Donoghue said it was alleged undercover gardai were also present in the toilet but not members of the public.

As a condition of bail, he must stay away from Mary Street.

The judge has already heard that the toilet area of the department store had become known for the alleged activity and a number of other men have appeared before the same court on similar charges.